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Great British PAC
Great British Political Action Committee
AbbreviationGB PAC
Formation4 September 2024;
2 years ago (2024-09-04)[1]
TypeCampaign group
Legal statusLimited company (GBP Corporation Limited)
HeadquartersRedditch, England[1]
Region served
Key people
Main organ
Advisory board
Websitegreatbritishpac.com

The Great British Political Action Committee (Great British PAC or GB PAC) is a far-right campaign group in the United Kingdom, that describes itself as a cross-party organisation based on the political action committees of the United States.

GB PAC was founded by Claire Bullivant in September 2024, with the aim of "uniting the right ahead of a general election in 2029". The organisation is chaired by Ben Habib, a former Deputy Leader of Reform UK, and its advisory board includes two Conservative peers in the House of Lords, alongside both current and former Members of Parliament (MPs). In July 2026, Advance UK, a far-right political party led by Habib, de-registered and merged into GB PAC, which led to conflict with the party's COO, Tim Power.

The group has gained prominence through campaigning against the Chagos Deal and alleging that the government was engaged in covert deals to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece. It has been accused of exploiting a financial loophole by not being registered with the Electoral Commission, allowing it to avoid disclosing its donors. According to Hope not Hate, several members of the advisory board have disseminated far-right, racist and extremist views, although Habib and Bullivant have expressed indifference to the actions of their members. The Financial Times has also reported that the group is closely linked to Reform UK, Restore Britain and multiple far-right figures.[2]

History

Formation and ideology

The Great British Political Action Committee was founded in September 2024 by Claire Bullivant, a Conservative Party activist, stating that it aimed to 'unite the right'—ahead of the UK general election expected in 2029—and that it will hold an annual conference, denounce the mainstream media, undertake legal initiatives, and 'identify, train and support' the next generation of right-wing politicians in the UK.[3][4] The organisation has yet to register with the Electoral Commission, which, according to some anti-corruption experts, could allow it to exploit a financial loophole that allows U.S. donors to indirectly provide funding to political parties such as Reform UK and Restore Britain.[2][5][6] David Vine has characterised the group as 'a shadowy "Great British PAC" that won’t disclose its donors'.[7][8]

In March 2025, Habib told OpenDemocracy that Reform UK's local election campaign to repair potholes had originally been drafted by GB PAC's policy director.[9] The group said that it would campaign against three main policies; the Winter Fuel Payment being means-tested, the government handing sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, and the ban on issuing new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.[9]

The organisation's chairman is Ben Habib, the former Deputy Leader of Reform UK. Advisory board members include Conservative peers Daniel Hannan and Stephen Greenhalgh, political commentator Carl Benjamin, and one former Member of Parliament (MP), Brendan Clarke-Smith.[10] Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim since 2024 and leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice, sits as the group's 'Northern Ireland envoy'.[10]

GB PAC has been described as being far-right,[3][11] radical right,[12] and hard-right.[13][14] OpenDemocracy has labelled the group as "pro-Reform",[9] The Telegraph has called it a "conservative movement",[15] and Hope Not Hate (an advocacy group which campaigns against racism and neo-fascism) has described the group as "a far-right pressure group, packed with extremists".[3][16] GB PAC has labelled itself as "pro-sovereign, pro-right, pro-democratic".[17]

Far-right and extremist members

In February 2025, advocacy group Hope not Hate reported that thirteen members of the advisory board had shared far-right, racist and extremist views, as well as conspiracy theories, online. These included Edward Oakenfull, who was suspended as a Reform candidate in June 2024 over racist remarks about the IQ of Sub-Saharan Africans,[18] Antony Antoniou, who shared a website containing Adolf Hitler's speeches, and Scott Lewis, who claimed that Sadiq Khan was responsible for the 'Islamisation' of London.[3]

Although Habib and Bullivant were not among the individuals listed, Habib responded on Facebook, writing: "We don't care what our members have said in the past".[10] GB PAC subsequently branded Hope not Hate's report as a "smear campaign".[19] In May 2026, The Financial Times reported that the group had tried to arrange a meeting with the U.S. state department to secure funding.[2]

Merger with Advance UK

Membership ballot

On 3 June 2026, Habib announced his intention to de-register Advance UK and merge it into the Great British PAC.[20] Habib cited the emergence of Restore Britain, a similar far-right splinter party led by Rupert Lowe, as the main reason for doing so.[21] A membership ballot was subsequently held to determine whether this would take place.[22]

Membership ballot: 5–7 June 2026[23]
Option Votes %
Yes — Support the proposal 6,442 87.5
No — Oppose the proposal 921 12.5
Majority 5,521 75.0
Turnout 7,363 19.5

Attempt to block the merger

On 6 June, Habib dismissed Tim Power; the party's chief operating officer (COO), for sending out an unauthorised email which stated that the merger was in violation of Advance UK's constitution.[24] Habib subsequently threatened Power with legal action and reported him to the police under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.[25] GB PAC stated that "Mr Power was subsequently removed from his role and alleged that he tried to disrupt the ballot".[26] Advance UK was voluntarily de-registered on 10 July 2026,[27] and Habib told Byline Times that he would use the remaining £250,000 in cash to support GB PAC's initiatives on a "case-by-case basis".[28]

Campaigns

Involvement with the Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute

High Court injunction

On 21 May 2025, GB PAC organised and funded a High Court of Justice injunction on the Chagos Deal.[29] The case was filed on behalf of a former Chagossian resident by the group, which led to a late-night emergency hearing in the High Court of Justice. The hearing resulting in a temporary High Court injunction against the UK government's planned transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.[30]

Bullivant told The Observer that she had 'really embarrassed' Keir Starmer and David Lammy.[29] GB PAC said it had crowdfunded[a] the legal action from people concerned that Britain was surrendering its sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.[15][31] On 1 July 2025, the group backed a full judicial review launched by Louis Misley Mandarin.[32] Ben Habib reportedly donated £10,000 to the preceding judicial review in October later that year.[33][better source needed]

Establishment of the government-in-exile

In December 2025, GB PAC organised an election, overseen by an independent polling firm, which led to the establishment of the self-declared Chagossian Government.[34] On 14 March 2026, it launched another judicial review against the government's decision to evict four Chagossians who had previously been repatriated, including the inaugural First Minister of the self-declared government, Louis Misley Mandarin, travelled to the Chagos Islands to protest against a deal.[35][36]

Lawyers working for the Great British PAC pressed to obtain permits from the administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory, to provide further equipment and supplies to the island, as well as recruiting a medical professional and risk assessor to advise on jungle survival.[36] In April 2026, Bullivant criticised border police for preventing Adam Holloway, a former Conservative MP, from delivering supplies to the four Chagossians, describing the situation as 'deeply concerning'.[37]

The Telegraph has described the group as "indispensable" in its opposition to the Chagos Deal.[38] David Vine has argued that the group doesn't seek to return sovereignty back to its original inhabitants, but instead preserve British control, writing; "right-wing figures are cynically using Chagossians to try to uphold the colonial status quo".[7] Further, Sally Tomlinson has argued that the campaign has been "funded mainly by rich Americans".[39]

Allegations of secret deals to return the Elgin Marbles

On 11 July 2025, the group drafted an open letter to the UK government alleging that the British Museum was engaged in a covert agreement to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece, contrary to the British Museum Act 1963, which prohibits the repatriation of artefacts held in the museum.[13][40] Signatories included former Prime Minister Liz Truss, former MP Sir John Redwood and historian Dr David Starkey.[41][42] The group also threatened to take legal action against the government, which was viewed as an attempt to prevent the continuation of restitution negotiations with Greece.[43]

Local campaigns

On 18 July 2025, the group said they were 'exploring a private prosecution' after the police decided not to prosecute the vandalism of a painting of Arthur Balfour in Trinity College, Cambridge.[19] In August 2026, the group joined opposition against a planned solar farm in Solihull.[44] GB PAC has also supported events organised by Tommy Robinson, and campaigned for a ban on puberty blockers for transgender youth.[12]

In September 2026, nine members of the group were involved in anti-immigration protests in Falkirk, which included Scotland director Ronni McMenemy, who has stated that "Islam must be removed from the west".[45]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ GB PAC raised more than £26,000 via the Crowdfunder website: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/savechagos

References

  1. 1 2 "gbp corporation limited people - find and update company information - gov.uk". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. companies house. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Gross, Anna; Fisher, Lucy; Mackinnon, Amy (11 June 2026). "Reform UK seeks to rebuild its ties with MAGA". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mian, Louis (23 June 2025). "Meet the Great British PAC: a far-right pressure group, packed with extremists". HOPE not hate. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  4. ↑ "Home - Great British PAC". greatbritishpac.com. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  5. ↑ Mortimer, Josiah (26 June 2025). "Cryptocurrency Loophole Could Allow Foreign Billionaires to Secretly Bankroll UK Political Parties". Byline Times. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  6. ↑ Byrne, Liam (2026). Why Populists Are Winning: And How to Beat Them (1st ed.). London: Head of Zeus. ISBN 978-1-0359-2093-8.
  7. 1 2 Feffer, John (24 June 2025). "Resistance Works - FPIF". Foreign Policy In Focus. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Revealed: 'dark' money pressure group helped man Scots anti-asylum protests". The Ferret. 13 September 2026. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 Shone, Ethan (17 April 2025). "'Deeply alarming' new group could change UK politics forever". openDemocracy. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  10. 1 2 3 Mian, Louis (10 July 2025). "Two Tory peers remain in far-right pressure group despite widespread extremism in its ranks". HOPE not hate. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  11. ↑ Grostern, Joey; Bright, Sam (30 October 2025). "The Labour MP Rubbing Shoulders With the Far-Right". DeSmog. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  12. 1 2 "Case file: Great British PAC". HOPE not hate. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  13. 1 2 Harris, Gareth (11 July 2025). "Former UK prime minister Liz Truss signs letter criticising 'secretive' campaign to return Parthenon Marbles to Greece". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  14. ↑ Grierson, Jamie; Batty, David (11 July 2025). "Liz Truss and hard-right group accused of scaremongering over Parthenon marbles". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  15. 1 2 Holl-Allen, Genevieve (2 June 2025). "Last-ditch attempt to stop Chagos Islands giveaway". The Telegraph.
  16. ↑ Young, Toby. "Why is Hope Not Hate out to get me?". The Spectator. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  17. ↑ Neilan, Catherine. "How well-funded activists tried to thwart Chagos deal". The Observer. Retrieved 27 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Reform UK candidate made 'low IQ' comments about minorities". BBC News. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Right-wing group calls for charges over Balfour portrait vandalism". Varsity Online. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  20. ↑ Ferguson, Shea. "Advance UK de-registers as political party". UnHerd. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  21. ↑ Martin, Daniel (3 June 2026). "Ben Habib shuts down his hard-Right party to help Restore Britain". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  22. ↑ Gale, Paul (8 June 2026). "Ben Habib throws support behind Restore Britain - but wants fascist faction thrown out | Searchlight". Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  23. ↑ "Should Advance UK join forces with GBPAC? — Advance UK Membership Ballot". Advance UK. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Skwawkbox (6 June 2026). "Far-right 'Advance' implodes in war between leader and COO". Canary. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  25. ↑ Mortimer, Josiah (13 August 2026). "A Police Report, Legal Threats and a Splinter Party: Inside the Demise of Advance UK". Byline Times. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  26. ↑ "Advance UK Votes 87% to Join the Great British PAC". Great British PAC. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
  27. ↑ "Advance UK - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
  28. ↑ Mortimer, Josiah (14 August 2026). "Advance UK's 'Great British' Successor Group Refuses to Rule Out Foreign Funding". Byline Times. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  29. 1 2 Neilan, Catherine. "How well-funded activists tried to thwart Chagos deal". The Observer. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  30. ↑ Wright, Oliver; Parker, Charlie; Kendix, Max (22 May 2025). "How Chagos Islands deal was nearly scuppered by last-minute ambush". The Times. London. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  31. ↑ Parker, Charlie; Kendix, Max (23 May 2025). "Chagos activists may take Keir Starmer back to court". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  32. ↑ "Décolonisation et souveraineté — Échéances politiques — Chagos Deal : la High Court supplante les débats à la House of Lords". Le Mauricien (in French). 1 July 2025. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  33. ↑ CP (27 October 2025). "High Court to Hear Chagossian Judicial Review on Tuesday, Championed by the Great British PAC". Conservative Post. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  34. ↑ Martin, Daniel (16 December 2025). "Chagos Islanders defy Starmer by forming government in exile". The Telegraph.
  35. ↑ "Deportation of Chagos Islanders blocked by judge". BBC News. 20 February 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
  36. 1 2 Gross, Anna; Fisher, Lucy (28 March 2026). "Reform UK's billionaire donor backs disputed Chagos settlement". FT.
  37. ↑ Sawer, Patrick; Miller, Sabrina (11 April 2026). "Chagos supply mission 'thwarted by officials'".
  38. ↑ Roberts, Dr Kevin; Gardiner, Nile (5 May 2026). "Never forget: It was Trump who sunk Starmer's Chagos surrender". The Telegraph.
  39. ↑ Tomlinson, Sally (29 January 2026). Education and Race from Empire to Multiracial Britain (2nd ed.). Policy Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-1-4473-7830-3.
  40. ↑ Grierson, Jamie; Batty, David (11 July 2025). "Liz Truss and hard-right group accused of scaremongering over Parthenon marbles". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  41. ↑ Chow, Vivienne (11 July 2025). "Backlash Erupts Over Attempt to Block Parthenon Marbles Deal". Artnet News. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  42. ↑ Mansaray, Jayson (11 July 2025). "'Covert' and 'accelerating campaign' to return Elgin Marbles to Greece, say campaigners". Sky News. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  43. ↑ Giorgallis, Andreas (12 December 2025). "Restitution of Objects Unethically Acquired During the Colonial Era: The Intersections of Public and Private International Law". Chinese Journal of Transnational Law. 3 (1): 92–112. doi:10.1177/2753412x251399317. ISSN 2753-412X.
  44. ↑ "Solihull Resident Urges Locals to Oppose "Green Belt Solar Farm" Plans in picturesque Catherine De Barnes". Solihull Observer. 18 August 2025. Retrieved 13 February 2026.
  45. ↑ Briggs, Billy (13 September 2026). "Fears over 'dark money' funding hard-right anti-immigration groups in Scotland". The National. Retrieved 27 September 2026.
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